A week after the avalanche that left three dead in the Laguna del Inca area of Portillo on Saturday 17 October 2026, the authorities of the Valparaíso Region called for avalanches to be included in legislation as a specific natural risk and for an agency to be put in charge of their prevention and control. They made the proposal on Saturday the 24th at a technical round table led by the Valparaíso Regional Presidential Delegation, according to La Tercera.
The regional presidential delegate, Manuel Millones, explained that authorities currently "lack the powers needed to preventively prohibit entry" to exposed areas, even when there is a risk to life. While a solution is worked out, the Delegation and public services will run a self-care campaign aimed at tourists, athletes and visitors to the Andes.
What happened at Laguna del Inca
The avalanche struck on Saturday 17 October at around 14:45 in the Laguna del Inca area, next to the Portillo ski resort, in the municipality of Los Andes. It hit a group of seven people hiking towards Cerro Los Tres Hermanos along a marked trail; authorities ruled out that they were in a prohibited area, according to La Tercera. Three people died and four were injured. The search for the last body ended on Thursday the 22nd, with support from the Navy. The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the circumstances and, according to La Tercera, considers it an accident.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Saturday 17 October 2026, around 14:45 |
| Place | Laguna del Inca area, Portillo, municipality of Los Andes |
| Group | 7 people hiking towards Cerro Los Tres Hermanos |
| Victims | 3 dead and 4 injured |
| End of the search | Thursday 22 October |
Source: La Tercera (19, 22 and 24 October 2026), with information from the Public Prosecutor's Office and regional authorities.
What the authorities propose on avalanche risk
The round table included the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Public Works, Sernageomin, Senapred and the Navy. The provincial presidential delegate for Los Andes, Ricardo Figueroa, presented the risk scenario in the mountains. These are the proposals and measures reported:
| Proposal or measure | Status |
|---|---|
| Explicitly recognise avalanches in legislation as a natural risk | Proposal by the Valparaíso Delegation |
| Appoint an agency in charge of avalanche management, prevention and control | Proposal by the Valparaíso Delegation |
| Powers to preventively restrict access to exposed areas | Do not exist today, according to the delegate |
| Communication and self-care campaign for tourists and athletes | Announced |
| Restricted zone in the area, with Carabineros and the Army | Under evaluation, according to Cooperativa |
Source: La Tercera (24 October 2026) and Cooperativa (19 October 2026). None of these proposals is law yet; they would have to go through Congress.
Millones warned that the snowpack "will remain for a prolonged period" and that, combined with rising spring temperatures, the risk persists. "The preservation of human life must always be the first priority," he said.
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Geographer Pablo Salucci, of the Catholic University, reminded La Tercera that avalanches occur when snow accumulated on a slope loses stability, and that they are most common on slopes of between 30 and 45 degrees, after heavy snowfall, rain or temperature changes. He also warned that they are probably under-recorded, because they become known mainly when there are victims.
| Date | Place | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| August 1944 | Sewell (O'Higgins Region) | About 100 |
| August 1965 | Portillo | 5 |
| June 1984 | Los Libertadores border complex | 27 |
| October 2026 | Laguna del Inca, Portillo | 3 |
Source: Pablo Salucci, geographer at the Catholic University, in La Tercera (19 October 2026), and regional authorities for 2026.
Tips for going into the mountains in spring
- Check alerts before setting off: Senapred publishes current alerts at senapred.cl and Chile's Meteorological Office issues snowfall and temperature warnings.
- Avoid steep slopes after snowfall or rain: these are the conditions in which, according to experts, the risk increases.
- Go with a guide if you have no snow experience: and carry the equipment rangers require in the cold season, such as microspikes and poles.
- Leave your route with someone: tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
- Consider the state of the road: Route 60 to Portillo and the Cristo Redentor pass has had closures this month; we update it in the Cristo Redentor pass closure.
Our guide to the ski resort and the lake is in Portillo and Laguna del Inca, and the snow season in when the snow season is in Chile.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Portillo in October 2026?
On Saturday 17 October an avalanche hit a group of seven hikers in the Laguna del Inca area. Three people died and four were injured.
Is there a law on avalanches in Chile?
Not as a specific risk. On 24 October 2026 the Valparaíso Presidential Delegation called for them to be recognised in legislation and for a responsible agency to be designated.
When is avalanche risk highest?
After heavy snowfall, rain or sudden temperature changes, and on slopes of 30 to 45 degrees, according to geographer Pablo Salucci.
